For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [2 Timothy 4:3]

By Jim Brown and Jody Brown
August 9, 2002

(AgapePress) - A pro-family leader says the world's largest publisher of children's books has violated the trust of parents nationwide by promoting an anti-Christian book. The book was initially marketed directly to teenagers in Christian schools.

Scholastic, Inc., is selling the controversial book entitled Conversations With God for Teens, which promotes pantheism, sexual adventurism, and moral relativism. One passage of the book attributes the following statement to "God" in response to a teen's question concerning the forgiveness of sins: "I do not forgive anyone. That is the first thing you must understand about me. I will not forgive you, ever, for anything that you do .... I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive."

Bob Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, explains that the book, written by Neale Donald Walsch, flies in the face of Bible teaching.

"It basically tells kids they're their own authorities and that they can consult with their parents if they want, but they remain equipped to make the ultimate decision -- and that whatever that decision is, it's right for them," Knight says. "This gives kids a full approval to do anything they want."

"It's really scary stuff, and it's couched in 'semi-spiritual' language," he says. "It's a real piece of work -- it's as if the devil himself is whispering into your kid's ear."

Bob Knight

Knight says the Bible warns that people will seek out false witnesses to what their "itching ears" want to hear -- and that this book would qualify. He also notes that Walsch, the book's author, has a disturbing record.

"Neale Walsch, who has sold millions of books, is a four-time divorced, college dropout, New Age guru -- and he's the epitome of the kind of 60s type 'sit in a circle and contemplate your navel' authority that kids flock to," Knight says. "Apparently, it still sells in the next millennium."

Walsch's own website describes him as a "modern-day spiritual messenger" whose words are "touching the world." But Wayne Jackson, writing for the Christian Courier, described the author as a "new guru for the gullible" and "another oddity in the modern 'Ripley’s Museum' of religious freaks."

A Costly Mistake?
Knight says Scholastic's promotion of the book should make parents skeptical of very product put out by the publishing company. According to the pro-family spokesman, Scholastic is a corporate sponsor of the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which promotes the homosexual agenda in schools.

Early last month, both Knight's group and Focus on the Family exposed the anti-Christian content of the book during radio broadcasts. Focus' founder and president Dr. James Dobson vowed he would never again promote or purchase books from Scholastic.

Walsch's book was initially marketed by Scholastic directly to Christian schools on a sheet that included such books as the Prayer of Jabez for Kids and a set of books by Max Lucado. Placed prominently in the center of the sheet was the promotion for Conversations With God for Teens.

According to Knight, Scholastic has since admitted it made a mistake by including the book in the pilot project to Christian schools, and that it should have been more "cognizant of what should have been appropriate" in such a promotion.

© 2002 AgapePress all rights reserved.

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